Men charged with Perth assault

Two men have been charged in connection with the assault on a 27-year-old Irishman in Perth, Australia last Sunday.

The man, who has been named only as Michael, was smoking outside a friend’s house on Palmerston Street in Northbridge at about 3am when he was approached by a group of men, who asked him for a cigarette.

“Two people walked past me ... and came up and asked me for a cigarette. I didn't have any cigarettes left, I generally would give people a cigarette when I have them,” Michael told local media.

“I said I didn't have any, they got a bit aggravated, pushed me, and then another fella punched me to the head and I fell to the ground and then I was lying on the ground and there was just kicks going into my head.”

The 27-year-old victim said someone then went through his pockets and robbed him of money and a mobile phone.

When a friend later found him on the ground, Michael was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, suffering serious facial injuries.

From his hospital bed he asked the public to help find his attackers. "I think these people are a danger to other people on the streets so it would be a help for the police if anyone can give them information to catch these people and maybe show them a better way of life," Michael said.

Perth police then released CCTV vision of the incident. Sergeant Gerry Cassidy said this led to members of the public helping to identify a man and a woman, who were both questioned by police on Wednesday.

A 37-year-old man appeared in court today charged with aggravated stealing with violence. A 24-year-old man was charged yesterday.